EPISODE · Apr 6, 2025 · 1H 7M
Ep. 145 Cecilia Zapata-Harms
from Hello Chaos · host Cecilia Zapata-Harms, Chandler Mays (Producer), Jennifer Sutton
Key Takeaways:1️⃣ Experience is your unfair advantage—if you trust it.Cecilia shows how instinct and lived experience can be sharper than any playbook. Founders, trust your gut—and don’t let others underestimate what you’ve built (or survived)..2️⃣ Not all startups scale the same.If you’re building in a high-stakes or complex industry, the traditional advice won’t cut it. Founders need customized support, the right timing, and people who actually get it..3️⃣ You don’t need Silicon Valley to make a global impact.Building a business in a smaller market? Good. Cecilia proves that real innovation happens when founders connect locally and build with purpose—wherever they are.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Hello Chaos01:29 – Meet Cecilia Zapata-Harms and the founding of InnovaSphere05:09 – What makes InnovaSphere different from traditional startup support08:10 – The complexity of life sciences (and why founders go it alone)13:01 – Wearing two hats: founder + CEO14:38 – Female founder challenges in life sciences17:13 – Ditching the rules and trusting your gut22:25 – The most rewarding part of building something new24:50 – Cecilia’s early “oh shit” startup story26:28 – When it’s time to cut the cord (and why that’s okay)30:29 – Founders vs sustainers: hiring at different stages34:18 – Seeing five years ahead—and staying patient39:30 – What founders really need (spoiler: strategy + vent sessions)42:05 – South Carolina’s untapped life science potential45:13 – No fear? No problem. Cecilia’s global vision49:00 – One word to describe the journey: Emergence50:20 – Next chapter: Knowledge (and owning bookshops!)53:01 – Hidden talents, surprises, and floating—not swimming57:27 – Best advice: get mentors, get coaches, and learn to present1:02:24 – Go-to reads for clarity and courage1:04:45 – Where to connect with Cecilia and InnovaSphere🔗 Learn moreWebsite: https://www.innovaspheresc.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palmetto-innovasphere-inc/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliazapata/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cecz_26/ Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.Connect With Us:LinkedIn Instagram YouTube
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What this episode covers
In this week’s episode of Hello Chaos, host Jennifer “JJ” Sutton sits down with Cecilia Zapata-Harms, co-founder and CEO of InnovaSphere, a startup support ecosystem that’s reshaping how life science companies grow, scale, and survive the chaos. Cecilia opens up about her unconventional founder journey—from bartering with her grandfather as a child to negotiating complex biotech partnerships today. She dives deep into what it means to lead with instinct, to create community in an isolating industry, and to build something that didn’t exist (but had to). They unpack the mental load of entrepreneurship, especially as a woman in life sciences, the reality of chasing funding while staying mission-aligned, and why some of the best business lessons come from failure, gardening, and letting go of what no longer fits. This one is a masterclass in building bravely—even when you know exactly how hard it’s going to be.
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Ep. 145 Cecilia Zapata-Harms
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